Sheriff's Office: Credit card skimming devices showing up at ATMs

The Sheriff's Office is warning residents to be careful when using credit or debit cards after skimming devices were found ATMs in Volusia.

PATRICIO G. BALONASTAFF WRITER

The Sheriff's Office is asking residents in Volusia to be careful when using credit or debit cards at ATMs after at least two devices were found recently at local grocery stores.

According to sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught, "Unknown suspects have recently been very busy in Central Florida fishing for financial information at grocery store ATMs."

Citizens are asked to be extra vigilant when using debit or credit cards in any electronic device to pay for goods or obtain cash, Haught said.

The Sheriff's Office released the video of a suspect, which they hope the public may recognize and call authorities.

On Sunday a skimming device was discovered at 3:15 p.m. by a Publix customer service manager at a Publix at 3750 Roscommon Drive near Ormond Beach. The manager told investigators that she checked the ATM at 7 a.m. Sunday and did not see anything suspicious.

The manager said she again checked the money machine at 3:15 p.m. and noticed that the credit card slot cover was of a lighter color. She grabbed the cover and it came off and discovered the credit card skimming device, the report said.

The Port Orange Police Department is also investigating a similar incident at a Publix at 3821 Nova Road. The skimmer was found Saturday on the store's ATM and the device was very similar in appearance and construction to the one found near Ormond Beach, Haught said.

No fraudulent activity on anyone's bank accounts has been traced to skimming activity but the risk is certainly present, Haught said.

Deputies viewed surveillance video from the Publix near Ormond Beach and saw a man approach the machine at about 8 a.m. and put the skimmer in place. He returned about two hours later to check the skimmer, but he was wearing different clothes, Haught said.

Based on surveillance images, the suspect is described as a white male in his 40s. The first time he was seen at the Ormond Beach store he wore a long sleeve light blue shirt, black pants, white tennis shoes and a ball cap with a navy blue front panel.

During his second appearance he wore a long sleeve white plaid shirt, tan knee-length shorts, flip-flops and the same ball cap.

Anyone who has information about the suspect is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 386-323-0151. Anyone who has information, but prefers to remain anonymous, can call Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida, toll-free, at 1-888-277-TIPS(8477). Tipsters can also text a tip to Crime Stoppers by texting “TIP231 plus your message” to CRIMES. Residents who provide information to Crime Stoppers can qualify for a reward of up to $1,000.